Suffered a mini-stroke while portraying Fraulein Schneider in the musical "Cabaret" with
Joel Grey in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1988. She lost partial mobility on the right side of her face and suffered from a paralyzed chord. Was hospitalized but managed to continue in the role. Was advised by her doctor to avoid musicals for a year so she performed in dramas such as "Steel Magnolias" and "Orpheus Descending" with
Vanessa Redgrave. She finally returned to musicals as Golde in "Fiddler On The Roof" in 1990.